Beautiful Mind. Beautiful Skin. Beautiful Self.
Our skin is a reflection of how we treat ourselves. The amount of exercise we get, hours of sleep, the nutrients we eat (or don’t), have a direct relation on our bodies, how it functions –and our skin. Achieving beautiful skin is therefore, a personal commitment to a lifestyle of doing what’s best for you. 

Maintain a healthy balanced diet
Strive to regularly eat foods from all of the food groups and include a wide variety of fruits & vegetables ranging in color. By offering your body an array of nutrients, you’ll be supporting the formation and maintenance of healthy skin. Antioxidants in particular are amazing; they help prevent and repair the skin, by slowing down and even preventing the effect of free radicals that are harmful to the body. High levels of antioxidants are found in berries, red beans, kale and artichoke hearts.

For many, this might be hard to do but… Do not smoke and avoid excess caffeine and alcohol; these will dehydrate your skin and promote premature aging.

Work up a sweat
Exercise increases blood circulation and the delivery of nutrients to skin cells. Besides lowering your stress levels -which also contribute to dull & tired skin- regularly exercising helps clean away toxins and gives skin the optimum conditions for making collagen.

Water, Aqua, H2o
The body is made up of approximately 90% of water, and literally as you breath, you’re losing some of it. We must therefore continuously drink water to maintain hydration and prevent dehydration. When you do not get enough water, your skin will begin to look rough, tired, and dull. Another huge benefit from plenty of aqua is that it rinses the unwanted toxins from the body.

Cleanse, Soften, Moisturize
Everyday, no matter what skin-type you have. Cleansing will purify and prevent premature aging; softening will help restore your skins natural ph-balance and increase the skin’s absorption power, while moisturizing will protect and revitalize the skin. Determine your skin type before finding the suitable products for your face and regularly evaluate your skin; it will change, along with the product type that best suits it.

Exfoliate. As we get older the production of new skin cells diminishes. By exfoliating weekly, we help with this process by buffing away dead cells leaving skin more radiant, smooth, & blackhead free.

Protect. Never leave your house without protecting your skin & do not visit tanning salons. If you can’t stand the thought of being fair in the summer, slather some self tanner on. UVA and UVB rays are the most harmful to your skin and responsible for pre-mature aging.

Be conscious of how you are taking care of your body. Take the time to exercise, eat healthy, limit your stress levels, & drink as much water as you can – really give yourself that extra TLC. The benefits will become apparent through not only a more youthful looking skin, but a clearer mind, and a more vibrant self.

This article was written by Krista Ho Lem - professional makeup artist

Modeling is a fun and exciting profession, but there’s a darker side to modeling as well. It’s unfortunate, but true, that there’s an inherent risk in the modeling industry with respect to safety. Although the large majority of people working within the fashion and modeling industry are respectful and honest, there are a few bad apples that can pose a problem. Thankfully, playing it smart is easy. With a few simple precautions, models can ensure they don’t put themselves at unnecessary risk.

Model Republic has assembled this list of safety precautions to help keep our industry safe. Whether you are meeting people through Model Republic or any other online community, these tips can be applied.

Before Committing
Before working with new photographers or clients:

Get references. Ask for two or three references from other models that the photographer has worked withMake sure you actually check those references!
Do background checks. For example, if a photographer claims to work for a magazine or agency, you should check to see if they are telling the truth.
Meet up. It’s a good idea to arrange an informal meeting (ideally in a public setting) with the photographer prior to committing to a photo-shoot. If you cannot meet in a public place, it’s a good idea to bring a trusted colleague. The meeting is a good time to discuss the creative goals of the photo-shoot, scheduling and compensation. It will also allow you to assess the photographer’s character. Be careful to indicate any personal limitations you may have, such as posing for nude photos.
Too good to be true. If a modeling opportunity sounds too good to be true, it probably is. There are lots of scams posted online. A healthy amount of skepticism goes a long way.
Watch for warning signals. If a client or photographer asks lots of personal questions, or communicates with you in an unprofessional manner, you should pay attention to this. It’s OK to reject job offers if you feel uncomfortable.
Know your rights. Never sign a contract without reading it and understanding its contents first. If possible, have a qualified lawyer review any contracts you are asked to sign. When possible, provide your own contract.

On the Job

Have transportation. Ideally you will have your own transportation to and from the job location. Relying on the client or photographer for transportation is a risk that should be avoided.
Share the details. Find out where you will be, whom you will be with, and how long you are expected to be there. Then share this information with someone you trust.
Have backup. If at all possible, it is a good idea to have a colleague or friend present during the photo-shoot.
Bring a phone. Having a mobile phone is a good safety precaution in case of emergency.

Minors

A legal guardian should be involved in arranging all modeling work and projects. Any and all correspondence between an under aged model and a client/photographer should be facilitated by a legal guardian.

Ultimately, your safety is your responsibility alone! The tips and suggestions on this page are only a starting point. By researching online and learning from other industry professionals, you can augment your safety knowledge and pass this knowledge onto others.

Disclaimer: Model Republic does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and does not accept liability for any actions by the reader or the actions of any other individual with respect to this information.

Biography: An account of a person’s life, written, composed or produced by another. 

How general an explanation is given by the modern dictionary!

The fact is, not all biographies (bio) can be so loosely defined. In the business world, a biography typically focuses on an individual’s experiences and career path. In today’s world, expect that you will need to provide a bio at some stage in your career – developing a good one is an important part of your self-promotion and a concise way to set you apart from the crowd.

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